“Do what you do best and use this information to educate others"
Lots of useful information can be found on each of the sub pages within each section......
Furlough over school holidays.
There is no legal reason preventing agencies from continuing to furlough supply teachers over the school summer holidays, as long as the supply teacher has been furloughed already prior to 10th June.
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From 1st August the employer will have to pay the employers NI and employers pension contributions. So the only reason they may choose not to is money and how much an agency values their supply teachers.
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The Treasury confirmed supply teachers can be furloughed over summer holidays. 17/6/20 Ministerial written questions.
'Agency supply teachers are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme during the school summer holiday period, where they are otherwise eligible for the scheme.'
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The Department for Education confirmed supply teachers can be furloughed over summer holidays. 13/07/20 Ministerial written questions.
Supply teachers employed via an agency who had previously been furloughed via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for at least 3 consecutive weeks, taking place any time between 1 March 2020 and 30 June, can continue to be furloughed until the scheme ends on 31 October, so long as their employer chooses to continue to furlough them.'
https://members.parliament.uk/member/4656/writtenquestions#expand-1222112
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HMRC state that
In response to the 'Can supply teachers that have already been furloughed during term-time continue to be furloughed during periods where they normally would not be paid or working? Eg during summer holiday in August'
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HMRC internal advisory guidance states that 'Employees, who are paid in term-time only, can continue to be furloughed and claim under CJRS during the break between terms.'
HMRC Advisor webchat 1 . Short
HMRC Advisor webchat 2 . Medium
***Waiting for more evidence**
This can be confirmed via a direct HMRC web chat or by calling 0800 024 1222 and ask for a tier 3 referral.
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How much will furlough cost my agency/umbrella for me?
The cost of furlough depends on A) how much your gross pay is and B) if you pay into a pension and what % the agency pays (minimum 3%) If you are paid less than £169 gross a week and don't have a pension, your agency will not have to pay anything towards furlough during August.
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Calculation
a)Gross weekly wage x 0.03 = employers pension contribution (only if you pay into one)
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b)Gross weekly wage -£169 x 0.138= employers NI (if wage less than£169 gross this is ZERO)
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c)Add figures together = employers cost per to furlough you during August.
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If wage less than £169 gross and no pension the it will cost your agency nothing.
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***If an agency had 500 employees on £200 a week of which half paid into a pension, will pay an estimated £14,555 to furlough them for a period of 4 weeks.
Or a maximum of approximation £20,555 if everyone paid into a pension.
That is a maximum of £41 each and cost the agency less that a typical agency cut from you working one day for them as a teacher.****
Can your agency/umbrella afford it?
It is very unlikely that umbrellas will continue furlough without the help of agencies.
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You can find out exactly how money your agency had at their 2019 end of year accounts online at companies house. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/search/companies
1. search for the company name
2. click on the filing history link.
3. look for their 2019 accounts.
4. look at how much they have in their reserves, what their cash in bank is and if they pay dividends.
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Points for email if paid via an umbrella....
1.Ask agency to work with the the umbrella company to find a way to continue to furlough until the end of August.
2. Mention that while there is not a legal obligation to continue to furlough over the summer, there is a moral obligation to continue to support their supply teachers until schools open as normal in September.
2.Highlight the fact that the Treasury and HMRC have confirmed that supply teachers can be furloughed over the school summer holidays.
3.Include a calculation for your cost to furlough for a period of 4 weeks (if low or include an example) remind them anyone paid less than £169 and no pension will cost zero.
4. Point out that for most people the cost of furlough is on average the agencies cut from the teacher working 1 day for the agency.
4. List agencies that have already agreed to furlough their supply teachers for August eg. Hays, Teaching Personnel.
5. Highlight the fact that supply teachers are looking closely at agencies and how they have supported their supply teachers over the past 3 months.
6. Rather disappointing if you are not furloughed in August simply because you work for their agency rather than one that values supply teachers.
Points for email if paid directly by agency
1.Ask agency to find a way to continue to furlough until the end of August.
2. Mention that while there is not a legal obligation to continue to furlough over the summer, there is a moral obligation to continue to support their supply teachers until schools open as normal in September.
2.Highlight the fact that the Treasury and HMRC have confirmed that supply teachers can be furloughed over the school summer holidays.
3.Include a calculation for your cost to furlough for a period of 4 weeks (if low or include an example) remind them anyone paid less than £169 and no pension will cost zero.
4. Point out that for most people the cost of furlough is on average the agencies cut from the teacher working 1 day for the agency.
4. List agencies that have already agreed to furlough their supply teachers for August eg. Hays, Teaching Personnel.
5. Highlight the fact that supply teachers are looking closely at agencies and how they have supported their supply teachers over the past 3 months.
6. Rather disappointing if you are not furloughed in August simply because you work for their agency rather than one that values supply teachers.